Premier League Matchweek 1 Review

Gameweek 1

Arsenal kicked off the 2020/2021 Premier League season, the 29th season in its existence, with a mid-table clash, a 3-0 win against the league’s resident club Fulham. The Cottagers have taken a different approach in this transfer market, in comparison to the type of business they did in 2018; whilst they have retained the relatively big names of Aleksandar Mitrović, Tom Cairney and play-off final hero Joe Bryan, the team they fielded at Craven Cottage against Arsenal in the first game certainly contrasted to the all guns blazing XI they put out in the Premier League two years ago. Whilst Fulham fans may have looked forward to the season under modern legend Scott Parker, perhaps a lot of their hopes were dashed very early on as Arteta’s men took the lead in the 8th minute, before goals from new signing Gabriel and club carrier Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the early stages of the second half confirmed a comprehensive win for the Gunners, and one that would see them go top of the table, a rare experience for their fans.

Liverpool vs Leeds is an iconic fixture of English football and was made all the more interesting as Liverpool kicked off the season with the hopes of retaining the title, with Leeds returning to the top flight for the first time since they got relegated at the end of the 2003/2004 season. Suffice to say, it didn’t disappoint. 90 minutes, 7 goals and 2 Mo Salah penalties later, Klopp's men edged a victory after withstanding an incredibly brave and perfectly executed display from last season’s Championship winners. Marco Bielsa, the Leeds manager who has admirers such as Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi, well and truly announced himself to the Premier League with high pressing, liquid football that at times didn’t give Joe Gomez or Virgil Van Dijk time to breathe at the back. It was the perfect advertisement for the Premier League. One can only hope we get a game this gripping every week…